How Jim Clark made history at the Indy 500

But first, a little scene-setting. Clark’s debut outing at Indianapolis was in 1963, a time when front-engined cars ruled the ovals and the locals didn’t fear what they perceived as fragile rear-engined F1 cars from Europe. They had seen the like before, after all; the first rear-engined Indy 500 entry was the Cooper of Jack Brabham two years prior.

In his first time at the Indy 500, Clark demonstrated his pace. He started fifth on the grid and, while he had to concede outright pace to his rivals on the straights, his Lotus 29 was faster on the oval’s banked corners. His one-pitstop strategy also worked in his favour, and he crossed the line in second place.

On his return a year later, a puncture and suspension damage put Clark out of contention, but fortunes reversed in 1965.

By now, the notion of rear-engined cars competing in the Indianapolis 500 wasn’t revolutionary, it was evolutionary. Of the 33 starters, 27 cars seated the driver ahead of the engine – it was less a case of whether one of them would take the victory and more a question of who.

And if it was going to be a foreign driver, Clark would be a popular victor. In 1965 he arrived at Indianapolis mid-way through what would be his second F1 World Championship-winning year, following victory in 1963. The local fans adored the Scotsman, his combined personality of being unassuming out of the car but laser-focused behind the wheel having won the affection of the Indy 500 crowds.

Besides, there was some American influence in his Lotus 38. The DFV engine may have been designed and developed by Cosworth, but it was funded and badged as a Ford to create an Anglo-American alliance. Clark started from second on the grid but had overcome race leader A.J. Foyt by lap three.

He maintained the lead until he pitted in lap 66 and then would have to be content with second place until Foyt pitted on lap 75. Thereafter, his lead was unassailed until the chequered flag fell. Having led for 190 laps, Clark finished with two minutes to spare ahead of second-place man Parnelli Jones.

The Lotus 38 became the first rear-engined car to take victory at the Indianapolis 500, and no front-engined car has done so since. But that wasn’t the only first that Clark chalked up on 1^st June 1965. He also became the first driver to have won both the Indy 500 and a F1 World Championship, and he remains the only person to achieve both in the same calendar year. Given the way modern motorsport works, that’s a feat unlikely to ever be matched.

Jim Clark’s Indianapolis win is one of many highlights of a stellar career that was tragically cut short in 1968, but one that nonetheless secured his place as one of motorsport’s all-time greats.

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